AI WEEK · IMAGES AND DESIGN

How to Create AI Images and Designs You Can Actually Publish

AI can produce an eye-catching image in seconds, but a useful post needs more: a clear goal, readable text, correct dimensions, human review and permission to use every element.

Published October 9, 2026 · Practical guide

The safest strategy is to split the work. Let AI create the background, concept or illustration; add headlines, prices, dates, logos and calls to action in a design editor. That lets you correct mistakes without generating everything again.

Start with the piece, not the tool

Before writing a prompt, finish this sentence: “I need an image for ___, aimed at ___, that must communicate ___.” Then choose one action: read, buy, call, register or visit.

Piece	Working format	What should dominate
Square post	1:1	One idea and a short headline
Story or vertical video	9:16	Centered subject and wide safe margins
Video thumbnail	16:9	Contrast and a few large words
Flyer	Final print size	Date, place, contact and hierarchy

Platforms change requirements. Check the official help page for the service where you will publish and keep a high-resolution master file.

A prompt that creates editable material

Create a [type of piece] image about [subject] for [audience]. Style: [photographic, collage, illustration, editorial]. Composition: [subject and placement], with clean space in [area] for a headline added later. Palette: [colors]. Lighting: [description]. Format [1:1, 9:16 or 16:9]. No text, logos, watermarks or signatures.

Asking for “no text” avoids depending on generated lettering that may be distorted. If you need a person, describe approximate age, action, environment, clothing and expression without requesting a real person's identity.

A six-step method

Sketch the layout. Decide where the image, headline, details and button will go.
Generate three distinct concepts. Change composition or style, not only colors.
Choose by function. Ask which version is understood fastest on a small screen.
Edit the design. Add real text, logo and facts in Canva, Adobe Express or another editor.
Inspect at 100%. Check hands, eyes, objects, shadows, reflections, fake words and inconsistent backgrounds.
Export and test. View the file on a phone before publishing, or order a print proof.

Hierarchy and accessibility

Use one headline, one supporting fact and one call to action. Two typefaces are usually enough. Keep strong contrast between text and background; do not rely on color alone to convey meaning. On the web, write alternative text that describes the image's information or function. If the image is decorative, avoid repeating the entire design in alt text.

Five-second test: shrink the design to phone size and glance at it. Can you tell what it offers, who it is for and what the person should do?

Three prompts to adapt

Thumbnail

Editorial photograph of [person/object] showing [emotion/action], simple background, dramatic light, high contrast, subject on the right, clean dark space on the left for a large headline, 16:9, no text or logos.

Business post

Authentic scene of [service/product] in [place], natural-looking people, [brand colors] palette, clean composition, product visible, negative space above, 1:1, no text, watermarks or trademarks.

Event flyer

Illustrated background for a [type] event with [elements], [tone] energy, visual frame around an empty central area, specific cultural details without stereotypes, vertical format, no text.

Rights, brands and people

Do not upload photos you lack the right to use or private information visible in documents or screens.
Do not imitate a real person's face or visual identity without consent, especially in advertising.
Do not request protected characters, logos or packaging for merchandise without authorization.
Review the terms for the exact model. Adobe distinguishes its Firefly models from third-party models, and credits depend on the plan and feature.
In the United States, the Copyright Office explains that purely AI-generated material is not protected by itself; human selection, arrangement and modifications may be evaluated case by case.

Checklist before publishing

Does the piece communicate one idea?
Are names, dates, prices, phone numbers and links correct?
Is the text readable on mobile?
Did I inspect visual errors and cropping?
Do I have permission for photos, brands and likenesses?
Did I save the prompt, editable file and final export?

Compare tools and current limits in the Images and design section of the AI Directory, and follow the complete series in AI Week.

Official sources

Checked October 9, 2026; features, credits and terms can change.